Method and device for the quantitative LIBS measurement of bio-molecular targets on a biochip

Abstract

A process, for the quantitative analysis by optical emission spectroscopy of a plasma induced by a laser beam of at least one target included in a biochip, involves the use of an adjuvant allowing the formation of a dry matrix capable of being ablated simultaneously with the at least one target, the dry matrix being configured to improve the analytical properties of plasma, the adjuvant having an emission spectrum whose lines have wavelengths distinct from the wavelengths of the spectral lines used for the quantitative analysis of said at least one target.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the quantitative analysis by optical emission spectroscopy of a plasma induced by a laser beam of at least one target included in a biochip, comprising using an adjuvant allowing the formation of a dry matrix capable of being ablated simultaneously with the at least one target, the dry matrix being configured to improve the analytical properties of plasma, the adjuvant having an emission spectrum whose lines have wavelengths distinct from the wavelengths of the spectral lines used for the quantitative analysis of said at least one target. 
     
     
       2. The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one target is segregated on the biochip by at least one probe such that a probe-target complex is formed between each probe and the target corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       3. The analytical process as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the use of an adjuvant (202) allows the formation of a dry matrix of amorphous structure. 
     
     
       4. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the use of an adjuvant allows the formation of a dry matrix of crystalline structure. 
     
     
       5. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the dry matrix is formed such that the probe-target complexes are located at the surface of a support, and are totally or partially englobed by a volume of the dry matrix. 
     
     
       6. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the dry matrix and the probes are fixed to a support. 
     
     
       7. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the adjuvant molecules forming the dry matrix are directly complexed to the probes. 
     
     
       8. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the adjuvant molecules forming the dry matrix are fixed to a support, the probes being fixed to the adjuvant molecules, the adjuvant molecules being fixed to the support. 
     
     
       9. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a layer of dry matrix is formed by placing a layer of adjuvant on the surface of the support, prior to placing the probes on the surface of dry matrix thus formed at the surface of a support. 
     
     
       10. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dry matrix is formed by a compound whose absorption wavelengths are close to the wavelength of the laser beam, such that the wavelength used for the laser is included in the absorption spectrum of the dry matrix. 
     
     
       11. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjuvant comprises a solution of water and of an element from the group comprising sugar, polysaccharide and disaccharide. 
     
     
       12. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each probe is labeled with a normalization element forming an internal standard. 
     
     
       13. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each probe is labeled with the normalization element by grafting. 
     
     
       14. The analytical process as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the normalization element is formed from boron.